Gate-operating device.



P. H. DOERING. v GATE OPERATING DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG M, 1913. Patented Mar 30 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

| I I I I I THE NORRIS PETERS CQ. PHOTC-LITHOI. WASHINGTON. D, I

F. H. DQERING. GATE OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 11176.14. 1913.

'1 ,'1 33,43 1. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED H. DOERING, OF FLORENCE, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF 0NE-HALF TO VIOLA \T. DAVIS, OF FLORENCE, COLORADO.

GATE-OPERATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed August 14, 1913. Serial No. 784,821.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED HARRIS Donn- ING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Florence, in the county of Fremont and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate- Operating Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gates, and more especially to the opening devices therefor; and the objects of the same are to produce an improved form of gate traveling on an improved form of track, with which are associated operating means for elevating and lowering the track from a remote point, and a latch for holding the gate closed. These objects are carried out by constructing the operating mechanism in the manner hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of this gate Complete, showing the parts in position in full lines to permit it to close and in dotted lines to permit it to open. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, taken from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the lifter. Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section through the latch post and the front bar of the gate, showing the means for latching the latter. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the guide. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail showing the lifter and the parts associated therewith in diiferent position from that illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a cross section through the main beam, showing the pins at the inner ends of the tubes.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the latch post which is connected with the inner post 2 by an overhead beam 3 which passes across the roadway, and from said inner post a beam 4 leads outward from the gateway along the line of fencing (not illustrated) and carries a track section 5 which is rigidly supported by said post and by remote fence posts in a manner not necessary to elaborate. A second and movable track section 6 is pivoted at 7 to the upper end of the inner post 2 and lies alongside the overhead beam 3, its free inner end being movable vertically within a loop-shaped guide 8 secured at its ends to the face of the latch post 1 and preferably having a set screw 9 through its lower end beneath the track section 6 so that the vertical movement of the latter may be limited. The parts are of such proportions that when the track section 6 lies upon the upper end of the set screw 9 it inclines downward from its pivot 7 to the latch post 1, but when this section is raised as indicated in dotted lines it inclines in the opposite direction. The track section 5 is at a lower level than the track section 6 and on it runs a pulley 10 journaled in a forked standard 11 at the rear or inner end of the gate 12; while a similar pulley 13 mounted in the upper end of a longer forked standard 11 rising from the front end of the gate, travels on the track section 6, and this standard is preferably braced as shown at 15. The gate itself may be made of any suitable material, but by preference I would have its frame 16 of tubing with T-joints 17 at its upper corners vertically adjustable on the standards 11 and 1 1 as by means of setscrews 18, and by this means the height of the bottom of the frame 16 from the ground may be adjusted as desired. If this detail is employed, the brace 15 may be connected at its opposite ends with the standard 14 and the top bar of the frame 16 by clips and set screws as shown at 19. The parts should be so adjusted that when the track section 6 lies on the set screw 9, the lower inner corner of the gate will not strike the ground as the gate slides or rolls to its closed position as seen in the drawings. The length of the guide8 should be sufficient to cause a reverse inclination of the track section 6 (see dotted lines) to roll the gate to opened position when the free end of this track section is raised.

One feature of my present invention consists in the form of latch employed for holding this gate closed, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 41. A. bolt 20 passes through the latch post 1 and preferably has its threaded end disposed remote from the gate, while against the inner face of said post and under the head of the bolt is carried a fork 21 whose mouth or open side is presented toward the gate and whose arms have barbs or hooks 22 as shown. On the front upright bar of the gate frame 16 is cast or secured a curved plate 28 whose upright edges are beveled as shown, the bevels running out at the top and bottom of this plate. Said plate may be of any suitable material, and if the gate frame is of tubing as shown it will be curved and may be easily secured to said tubing in any suitable manner. When now the gate .is brought to a closed position, the side edges or beveled ends of the plate pass between the barbs or hooks of the fork and spring them apart, and after said hooks have passed the plate they spring inward and engage the same so that the gate cannot be opened accidentally or by stock. l/Vhen now it is desired to open the gate, the free end of the movable track section 6 is elevated so that the gate is lifted bodily and the plate 23 is moved upward out of engagement with the fork, after which the gate rolls open in the manner already described. This latch I consider extremely useful with an operating device of the type hereinafter more fully described, and therefore it may be said to be a feature of the present invention.

The operating mechanism may be said to consist of a lifter which raises and lowers the swinging track section, and the actuating mechanism by means of which the lifter is moved by a person approaching on foot or horseback. The lifter itself is made of stout sheet metal or wood and substantially in the shape of an anchor. It has an upright stem 30 and lateral arms 31 at the lower end of the stem, and it is pivoted at 32 to the overhead beam 3 at the juncture of these arms with the stem. Short sections of cord or cable 33 connect the outer ends of the arms 31 with the movable track section 6, and these cord or cable sections are taut when the section is down and the stem stands upright as shown. Pins 34 are disposed in said overhead beam at opposite sides of the pivot pin 32 and at proper points so that when the lifter is turned to either side until its stem 30 rests upon one of said pins, the cord or cable leading from the arm which projects to the opposite side of said stem, down tov the rail section 6, crosses the pivot pin 32, and therefore the lifter will remain in this position and the track section and gate will be held elevated until force is applied to restore the lifter to its upright and normal position. The upper end or head 35 of the lifter is formed in the shape ofa plate projecting forward from its stem and curved and grooved transversely as best seen in Fig. 3, and with this head is connected the actuating mechanism.

Carried by suitable supports alongside the roadway, or preferably carried in a framework mounted upon and projecting from the posts 1 and 2, is the actuating mechanism for rocking said lifter ,on its pivot to one side or the other. As shown, I would extend rods 40 from the posts, outand is attached at 47 to the far end thereof,

while the other cord 41 leads over the other sheave around a second pulley 48 at the other side of the lifter, and thence in the opposite direction over its head and is attached to the far end thereof at the point 19. The same structure is duplicated on the other side of the overhead beam.

When now a person approaches the gate, he draws on the handle 50 at the lower end of one of said cords and tilts the lifter from 1 its upright position to that illustrated in Fig. 6, with the result that the track section 6 is raised and the gate rolls open. Such tilting of the lifter throws it over onto the right hand pin 341 where it remains for the reason above described. In passing through the gate he pulls on the handle 51 of the opposite cord at the far side of the gate and restores the lifter to its upright position, with the result that the track section 6 descends and the gate rolls closed. In closing its plate or keeper engages the latch on the latch post in the manner above described,-

whereas in opening the gate the latter is raised vertically so as to disengage its keeper in a manner which will also be clear.

I do not wish to be limited to the specific details of construction, nor to the sizes, shapes, proportions, and exact materials of parts; and I reserve the right to make such changes as may come within the spirit of this invention.

l/Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a tilting track, and a gate having a wheel rolling thereon, of a track lifter comprising a normally upright stem having a head at its upper end and laterally projecting arms at its lower end, a beam to which the lifter is pivoted at substantially the juncture of its arms with said stem, connections between the outer ends of said arms and the track, stop pins projecting outwardly from one side of said beam, said pins being located on substantially opposite sides of the lifter pivot and being designed to limit the movement of the lifter when either of said connections has passed the pivot thereof, and actuating elements connected to said head whereby to operate said lifter.

2. The combination with a tilting track, and a gate having a wheel rolling thereon; of a track lifter comprising a normally upright stem having a head at its upper end and laterally projecting arms at its lower end, a beam to which the lifter is pivoted at the juncture of its arms with said stem, connections between the outer ends of said arms and the track, said connections being attached to the later at a point directly below the pivot of the lifter, and actuating mechanism connected with the head and leading to a remote point for swinging said lifter aside and for restoring it to normal position, each of said arms being adapted to be swung past dead center to retain said track in raised position.

3. The combination with a tilting track, and a gate having a wheel rolling thereon; of a track lifter comprising a normally upright stem having a grooved head at its upper end and laterally projecting arms at its lower end, a beam to which the lifter is pivoted at the juncture of its arms with said stem, means connecting the outer ends of said arms with the track, guides carried by said beam at opposite sides of the lifter, and two cords leading from remote points through said guides and in opposite directions over said head and attached to the far ends thereof.

4. The combination with a tilting track section, a latch post having a loop in which the free end of said section moves, a second post to which the other end of said section is pivoted, an overhead beam connecting said posts, and a gate having a wheel traveling on said section; of an anchor-shaped lifter pivoted at the juncture of its stem with its arm to said beam, connections between the outer ends of said arm and the track section, and actuating mechanism connected with the head of the anchor and led in opposite directions from said overhead beam to remote points, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a tilting track section, a latch post having a loop in which the free end of said section moves, a set screw passing upward through the lower end of said loop, a second post to which the other end of said section is pivoted, an overhead beam connecting said posts, and a gate having a wheel traveling on said section; of an anchor shaped lifter pivoted at the juncture of its stem with its arm to said beam, flexible connections between the outer ends of said arm and the track section, and actuating mechanism leading to remote points for turning said lifter aside on its pivot and for restoring it to normal upright position, for the purpose set forth.

6. A device of the character described comprising a tilting track, a gate having a supporting roller mounted thereon, a lifter pivoted above the track and having an upright stem and a pair of arms projecting laterally in opposite directions therefrom, an operating connection attached to said stem connecting elements between said arms and a point on the track directly beneath the pivot of the lifter, and stops for limiting the downward movement of said stem when swung to bring said connecting elements past the pivot of said lifter whereby the tilting track is retained in raised position until said lifter is tripped.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED H. DOERING. Witnesses W. W. CAFKY, D. A. JACK.

Copies of this patent may be' obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

